UPDATE and a few more American Bonsai seen at The Artisans Cup, Sept. 26

UPDATE: Made it to the Oncology Center for the blood work just fine this morning. Janessa gave me a ride there and then to work--she's a sweetheart! I don't know the results of the blood counts, though, so I'm hoping that they are OK. Since I had the test done about 9:40 a.m., and it is now close to 6 p.m. with no phone call or e-mail telling me to report early, I'm hoping that means I won't all of a sudden have to go there at 7 a.m. to do the test again before the chemo appointment at 8:30 a.m. Anyway, here's what has been approved by the doctor for in between Round 4, tomorrow, and Round 5, probably on October 22--I will only work seven days once I feel well enough to go back to work, not ten like I did this time. Hopefully, by working two days, being off three days, working three days, being off three days, then working two days before I get ready for Chemo Round 5 I will be able to endure the fatigue better. I'm certainly ready to try it. Thank you so much for your continued prayers, love, and concern.



Mountain Hemlock, exhibited by Bob King. Species, Tsuga mertensiana. Estimated age, 150+ years old; time in training, 15 years. Origin, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.



California Juniper, exhibited by John King. Species, Juniperus californica. Estimated age, 100+ years old; time in training, 10 years. Origin, Mojave Desert.



Buttonwood, exhibited by Michael Fedducia. Species, Conocarpus erectus. Estimated age, 150-200 years old; time in training, three years. Origin, Florida.

This is the artist statement excerpt published in the booklet that went along with the exhibition: This tree was collected in south Florida in the early 80's by Joe Samuels, one of the early pioneers of bonsai in Florida. In my humble opinion, it is by far one of the best representations of the larger buttonwoods that reside on the rocky islands of the Florida Keys that I have seen, and is one of the oldest collected specimens that I have encountered. Some of the trees I find most inspiring stand alone on small coral rock islands off the coast in the Atlantic ocean. They show a true will to survive in the face of adversity, overcoming the lack of a constant fresh water supply. Only to be replenished when a rain shower passes through saturating the stone in which they live. Gripping the coral tightly over the centuries as hurricanes push through, threatening to rip them away from their rocky perch, and still they hold on. They are inundated with salt day after day, and have adapted to excrete the excess through specialized glands at the base of their leaves. Living on the ragged edge of life and death, they exude strength and beauty while sharing the story of their constant struggle through the scars that they have earned. It is my hope to capture this image, if only a glimpse, and to allow the viewer to see this species in all it's glory as I have kayaking the ocean waters.

UPDATE and The Artisans Cup, some of the American Bonsai as seen at exhibit held in the Portland Art Museum

UPDATE: I don't know how it happened, but I didn't really get up today until 9:49 a.m. Best of my memory, I woke up at 6 a.m., but didn't get up other than to get in front of the TV because I really wanted to be awake at 7 a.m. to watch CBS Sunday Morning. I think I watched most of it, dozing now and then. Before it went off, I fell asleep all the way. I don't know what woke me up, but I was hungry, so ate leftover rice with kidney beans and smoked beef sausage slices with leftover Coca Cola from the Subway on Thursday afternoon that I didn't finish when I had my little picnic in the front yard. I feel pretty good. Tomorrow afternoon I have an appointment with the chemo doctor. Wednesday before work I go for the pre-chemo bloodwork. Thursday at 8:30 a.m. I have the chemo appointment for Round Four. I hope my blood counts are where they need to be. Thank you for your continued prayers, love, and concern!



It's easy to see why this tree had to be all by itself in the foyer to the exhibition room. It's huge compared to the 71 trees listed in the booklet handed to us when we entered the exhibit hall. Here's the info about this tree: Englemann Spruce, exhibited by Ryan Neil, Founder of The Artisans Cup. Species, Picea englemannii; origin, the Cascade Mountains. Estimated age is 350 years; years in training, three.



Coastal Redwood, exhibited by Bob Shimon. Species, Sequoia sempervirens; origin, Mendocino, California. Estimated age is 100 years; years in training, 18.



Japanese Maple, exhibited by Ram Lukas. Species, Acer palmatum 'Kashima;' origin, collected landscape tree. Estimated age, 50-60 years; years in training, 10. I cropped it like this because I didn't like all of the light on the leaves from the overhead fixture. I wanted you to be able to see the delicate leaves.

More American bonsai soon.